Hands Free Exercise Device

ABSTRACT

A resistance exercise device is disclosed for an amputee which includes a support assembly configured to engage the stump portion of an amputated limb. The support assembly includes a pair of circumferential support cuffs. The support assembly includes inelastic adjustable bands with the support cuffs attached to the end thereof. The harness assembly is connected to a centrally located anchor, having a spacing member, that provides for a distribution of the user&#39;s weight between the arms. The device allows the user to selectively adjust the exercise load from nearly zero resistance to the user&#39;s full body weight.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Non-Provisional Application of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/908,213 filed Nov. 25, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to exercise equipment, and more particularly to a method and apparatus enabling hands-free exercise of several specific muscle groups in isolation, including muscles in the chest, shoulders, and back.

Weight lifting exercises targeting the upper body often rely on a user's hands to provide the connection between the body and the weight or resistance machine. Consequently, hand injuries usually require the injured person to suspend weight-lifting exercise while the injuries heal. People with limitations including arthritis tendonitis, carpal tunnel, transradial amputee (below the elbow amputation), and other limitations are limited in performing pushups, planks, forms of resistance training, dips, and other forms of exercise due to their condition/injury. In cases where the hand injury is permanent, the person may be forced to abandon certain weight lifting exercises requiring use of the hands altogether.

Other weight lifting exercises exist to isolate individual muscles or specific groups of muscle enabling targeted development of the muscle. The objective of such specific exercise is often related to body building with the goal of maximizing individual muscle definition. Many upper body exercises in which the hands provide the human-machine connection provide only limited muscle isolation capability; arm movement typically involves many muscles in the arms, chest, and back.

Both of the prior art patents discussed hereinabove, describe exercise devices that are used to perform specific exercises directed toward specific muscle groups, and are thus limited in application. Furthermore, these prior art exercise devices are not suited for use by an amputee. It would be beneficial therefore, to provide a exercise system that can be utilized by an amputee to exercise a variety of muscle groups.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to be worn by a user that enables hand-free strengthening exercise of pre-selected muscle groups such as in the chest, arms, shoulders, and back. The apparatus comprises support assemblies configured to encircle the user's forearm, or in the case of an amputee to encircle the user's arm near the stump. Each cuff includes a structure for releasably connecting the support assembly to the exercise device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hands-free strength-training apparatus for a user that may be selectively adjusted to fit a wide array of user physiques. The support assemblies are selectively adjustable in circumference to fit a typical range of human arm (and/or stump) sizes. The support assemblies also can incorporate elastic portions to maintain pressure contact with the user's arm (and/or stump) once equipped to limit movement of the apparatus along the length of the arm.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a strength-training exercise apparatus that enables users lacking the ability to grasp with their hands to engage in upper-body strength-training activity.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a hands-free, upper-body strength-training apparatus that is durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, carefree of maintenance, easily assembled/stored, and simple and effective to use.

These and other objects are achieved by an exercise device comprising two adjustable support assemblies configured to encircle a user's arm. Each assembly is provided with a releasable and pivoting connector for conveniently connecting the assembly to the rest of the device. This releasable connector also allows an amputee to use two different sized cuffs if needed. As hands are not necessary, the apparatus also enables users having a hand or other lower arm infirmity to continue other upper-body muscle exercises.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the inventive exercise device according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a spacing member according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a user with the support assemblies of one embodiment of the invention engaged; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a support assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In general, the present invention provides an exercise device that is supported by, or that can be easily attached to, a supporting structure, and that allows a user with limited or no use of the hands to perform a large number of exercises by easily adjusting the length of the device and thereafter balancing the device as the user transfers his weight to the device. Several of the features of the present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the figures, which show the device of the present invention, and which are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.

In general, exercise device 10 includes an anchor 12 connected to downwardly depending anchor strap 14. Anchor strap 14 is equipped with optional harness receptacle 16 to receive harness strap 20. Harness receptacle 16 serves to more properly secure and retain harness strap 20 during use. Harness strap 20 is fed through the loop of anchor strap 14 and rests on harness receptacle 16. Harness receptacle 16 is preferably made of material that supports and holds the harness strap 20 through strap 14 when device is under a load.

Harness strap 20 forms a loop and is preferably adjustable. As shown in the figures, harness strap 20 is adjustable by means of harness buckle 22. Any means of providing a loop having an adjustable length can be used however. Harness strap 20 is received at its upper end by harness receptacle 16. Spacing member 24 receives the lower end of harness strap 20. Devices lacking a spacer create undue lateral pressure on the user's shoulders when the device is under load. Spacing member 24 has a length sufficient to prevent a user from being pinched between the bands of the device (discussed below) when in use. In a preferred embodiment, spacing member 24 is adjustable in length.

As shown in FIG. 2, spacing member 24 includes a plurality of apertures 24 a at each end. Apertures 24 a receive harness strap 20 in a manner that allows depending loops 20 a to be formed. A portion of harness strap 20 rests on the upper surface of spacing member 24, which assists in distributing the weight placed on the harness.

Rotating members 26 connect to and depend from harness strap loops 20 a. Alternatively, rotating members 26 can be affixed directly to spacing member 24. Rotating members 26 allow for rotational movement of the user's arm during exercise without causing the elongate bands (below) to twist. The rotational movement also reduces rubbing of the straps on the user's skin.

Elongated arms 30 depend from rotating members 26. In a preferred embodiment, elongated arms 30 comprise of a single band that is slidably received by rotating members 26. This arrangement provides each elongated arm 30 to further comprise a first arm 32 and a second arm 34. A pair of supporting assemblies (40) is provided, with one positioned at the end of each arm 30. Specifically each supporting assembly is connected to arm 30 between the ends of first arm 32 and second arm 34. Arm 30 is substantially inelastic, in a preferred embodiment, although embodiments using elastic resistance bands are also contemplated, with a length extending from a first side of supporting assembly 40, through rotating member 26 and back to a second side of supporting member 40. In an optional embodiment, arm 30 includes a lengthening mechanism (not shown) that provides for increasing or decreasing the length of arm 30.

Anchor 12 is used to provide a fixed anchor point for exercise device 10 and to support a user's weight as it is applied to arms 30. Anchor 12 is adapted for positioning exercise device 10 in a door and providing support to arms 30 through harness strap 20. With anchor 12 on the opposite side of a door from arms 30, anchor 12 supports the weight of a user as pressure is applied to support assemblies 40. In addition, anchor 12 provides for positioning exercise device 10. Thus, the total length of exercise device 10 and distribution of that length between each of arms 30 can be easily positioned and adjusted. While the preferred embodiment is for use with a door, the exercise device can be used with any structure that can support the weight of the user.

Support assembly 40 is characterized general as a “cuff” and includes a circumferential support strap 42 preferably formed of a flexible high-strength woven fabric, such as, for example, nylon. A circumferential layer of padded material 44 can be disposed about the inner periphery of support strap 42 to provide comfort for the amputee during an exercise routine. The operative diameter of support strap 42 can be selectively varied by adjusting a hook and loop type fastening assembly 46 of the type marketed under the trademark VELCRO by Velcro Corporation of Manchester, N.H. Other fastening means may be utilized including, for example, buttons, snaps, or hooks. Assembly 40 is connected to first arm 32 and second arm 34 by means of assembly connectors 48 disposed on opposite side of assembly 40. Assembly connectors 48 allow pivotable movement of support assemblies 40 relative to elongated arms 30. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening means further include a loop adapted to receive a stump of the user.

As shown in FIG. 4, when a user places his/her forearms (and/or stump) in support assembly 40, the user's arm rest between first arm 32 and second arm 34. This provides even distribution of the user's weight and prevents the elongate arm 30 from applying uneven pressure to the user's arms and/or shoulders.

When supported by a structure, such as door or a railing, pole or other support member (not shown) the inventive exercise device provides a pair of support assemblies for a user to exercise against his/her weight according the user's position relative to the device and angle relative to the floor, and provides for easily adjusting the length of the device. As described below, the inventive device can be used to exercise in any one of a large number of orientations according the selected adjustable length and according to where and how the user stands relative to the exercise device. In general, a user sets the exercise device to a desired length, positions him/herself near the exercise device, supports a portion of his/her body weight from the exercise device by with the support assemblies, and exercises by moving his/her body with his/her weight supported by the ground and the exercise device. Examples of support on the ground and exercise device include, but are not limited to, standing on one or both legs, lying on the stomach or the back, or kneeling and having the exercise device support ones weight by the support assemblies, as appropriate.

It will be seen that the advantages set forth above, and those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matters contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Any materials, which may be cited above, are fully incorporated herein by reference.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. Relative terminology, such as “substantially” or “about,” describe the specified materials, steps, parameters or ranges as well as those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed inventions as whole (as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art). Now that the invention has been described, 

What is claimed is:
 1. An adjustable, exercise device comprising: a. a first support assembly configured to circumferentially engage an arm of the user at a first location adjacent to an elbow joint; b. a second support assembly configured to circumferentially engage an arm of the user at a first location adjacent to an elbow joint; c. a first elongated member having a pair of ends separated by a length where said elongated member is a substantially flat strap and, where said pair of ends includes a first end releasably connected to a first side of the first support assembly and a second end releasably connected to a second side of the first support assembly; and d. a second elongated member having a pair of ends separated by a length where said elongated member is a substantially flat strap and, where said pair of ends includes a first end releasably connected to a first side of the second support assembly and a second end releasably connected to a second side of the second support assembly.
 2. The exercise device of claim 1, further comprising an anchor having a first portion for mounting to a structure wherein said structure is a closed door having a door jamb, wherein said anchor includes a strap that is passable between said closed door and said door jamb.
 3. The exercise device of claim 2, further comprising a harness strap, having a loop therein, connected to and depending from the anchor strap.
 4. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the first and second elongated members are connected to the harness strap at an end opposite the first and second support assemblies.
 5. The exercise device of claim 3, wherein the harness strap includes at least one cam buckle, such that the length of the harness strap loop is adjustable according to the length of strap through said cam buckle.
 6. The exercise device of claim 3, further comprising a spacing member having a first end and a second end, disposed within the harness strap loop.
 7. The exercise device of claim 1, wherein the first and second support assemblies include an adjuster enabling a circumference of said cuffs to be individually adjusted to securely conform to the arm of the user thereby retaining each said support assembly generally immovably on the user's arm.
 8. The exercise device of claim 7, wherein each said adjuster comprises a strap and buckle.
 9. The exercise device of claim 7, wherein each said adjuster comprises an elastic portion biased to maintain said support assemblies secured in place on the user's arm.
 10. The exercise device of claim 7, wherein each said adjuster comprises a hook and loop fastener. 